How did uhn-uh come to mean “no” and uh-huh come to mean “yes” in English?

Question

Pretty much the title. Also curious if other languages have similar non-word sounds for negation/affirmation.

In: Other

Answer 1

Hold something in your mouth, or with your mouth closed, and say “yes sir” and “no sir”. The origins are in slavery and subjugation, and then mockery of that sound, and eventual acceptance as a response with genuine utility with a forgotten origin. It basically originated as [affirmative noise] sir and [negative noise] sir.